Obituary for Virginia Ann Lund (Van Sant)
Virginia Ann Lund of Eden Prairie, MN passed away peacefully surrounded by family on April 14th at the age of 86, at her residence in Scottsdale, AZ. Prior to her passing, Virginia hosted one last family gathering filled with laughter and love. She said it was the best Easter of her life.
Virginia was born on December 11th, 1936 in Hampton, Iowa to Oscar and Muriel Van Sant. She attended Cedar Falls High School (where she met her husband Ronald Lund) and the University of Northern Iowa.
Virginia and Ron were married for 67 years and had 4 beautiful children, Lisa, John, Mary and Sandi. Today her family has grown into a rambunctious clan of 30+. She was blessed with a bonus family of Cambodian refugees who she welcomed into her home in the early 80’s and continued to love as her own throughout her life. Virginia loved her family fiercely and passed on to them her strong faith and spirituality. She was a prayer warrior for everyone and prayed daily for each member of her family and for all others who requested prayers.
Bridge was Virginia’s passion. She was a talented artist. Throughout her life she enjoyed sailing, golfing, skiing, and playing tennis. Ron and Virginia crossed Lake Superior multiple times in their sailboat, The New Song, and made countless day trips with family from Bayfield around the Apostle Islands.
Virginia was an avid traveler; she visited dozens of countries and every continent. She especially loved cruising and traveling throughout Europe. To impart their passion of travel and love for family, Virginia and Ron took each of their grandchildren on an individual “12 year old trip” to a destination of their choice. The trips included a North European cruise, Switzerland, Paris, Turkey, Scandinavia, Greece, and New Zealand. For their 50th Wedding Anniversary, the entire family traveled for 3 weeks throughout Scandinavia. When she wasn’t traveling, Virginia spent her summers in Bayfield, WI and winters in Scottsdale, AZ, always surrounded by family. Ron and Virginia frequently hosted events at their residence in
Eden Prairie, including 2 weddings, events for the Minnesota Orchestra, several graduation celebrations and countless family pizza parties.
Virginia was a friend to anyone she met. She was a kind and loving woman and her Christian faith made her a spiritual giant. Her spirit attracted people from all walks of life and strangers quickly became Thanksgiving guests or prayer partners. Some of her favorite places to make friends were her Bible Study, the Minnesota Orchestra, her Bridge Club, The Lafayette Club, Normandale Church in Edina, MN and Christ the Lord Lutheran Church in Carefree, AZ.
Virginia was preceded in death by her mother, Muriel Van Sant, her father, Oscar Van Sant, her son John Lund and her sister Marjorie Thorsrud. She is survived by her husband Ronald Lund, her brother, William Van Sant (Marilyn), daughters Lisa Lund (Jim Camarata), Mary McNabb (Todd), and Sandi Niederluecke (Kurt), her grandchildren Emily McNabb (Ginny Too), Abby McNally (Andrew), Carl Numrich (Carly), John Numrich, Patrick McNabb (Hayley), Max Niederluecke (Lauren), Berit Niederluecke and Lindsay Hicks (Trevor) and great-grandchildren Jack McToo, Clara McToo, Oscar McToo, Margot McNally, Miles McNally, Madeline Numrich and Cora Hicks, her caretaker and special friend, Freda Morel, many nieces and nephews, and of course, her constant companion and furry friend (the miniature schnauzer) Winnie III.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations in Virginia’s honor to the Minnesota Orchestra.
https://my.minnesotaorchestra.org/support/choose-donation
Virginia was born on December 11th, 1936 in Hampton, Iowa to Oscar and Muriel Van Sant. She attended Cedar Falls High School (where she met her husband Ronald Lund) and the University of Northern Iowa.
Virginia and Ron were married for 67 years and had 4 beautiful children, Lisa, John, Mary and Sandi. Today her family has grown into a rambunctious clan of 30+. She was blessed with a bonus family of Cambodian refugees who she welcomed into her home in the early 80’s and continued to love as her own throughout her life. Virginia loved her family fiercely and passed on to them her strong faith and spirituality. She was a prayer warrior for everyone and prayed daily for each member of her family and for all others who requested prayers.
Bridge was Virginia’s passion. She was a talented artist. Throughout her life she enjoyed sailing, golfing, skiing, and playing tennis. Ron and Virginia crossed Lake Superior multiple times in their sailboat, The New Song, and made countless day trips with family from Bayfield around the Apostle Islands.
Virginia was an avid traveler; she visited dozens of countries and every continent. She especially loved cruising and traveling throughout Europe. To impart their passion of travel and love for family, Virginia and Ron took each of their grandchildren on an individual “12 year old trip” to a destination of their choice. The trips included a North European cruise, Switzerland, Paris, Turkey, Scandinavia, Greece, and New Zealand. For their 50th Wedding Anniversary, the entire family traveled for 3 weeks throughout Scandinavia. When she wasn’t traveling, Virginia spent her summers in Bayfield, WI and winters in Scottsdale, AZ, always surrounded by family. Ron and Virginia frequently hosted events at their residence in
Eden Prairie, including 2 weddings, events for the Minnesota Orchestra, several graduation celebrations and countless family pizza parties.
Virginia was a friend to anyone she met. She was a kind and loving woman and her Christian faith made her a spiritual giant. Her spirit attracted people from all walks of life and strangers quickly became Thanksgiving guests or prayer partners. Some of her favorite places to make friends were her Bible Study, the Minnesota Orchestra, her Bridge Club, The Lafayette Club, Normandale Church in Edina, MN and Christ the Lord Lutheran Church in Carefree, AZ.
Virginia was preceded in death by her mother, Muriel Van Sant, her father, Oscar Van Sant, her son John Lund and her sister Marjorie Thorsrud. She is survived by her husband Ronald Lund, her brother, William Van Sant (Marilyn), daughters Lisa Lund (Jim Camarata), Mary McNabb (Todd), and Sandi Niederluecke (Kurt), her grandchildren Emily McNabb (Ginny Too), Abby McNally (Andrew), Carl Numrich (Carly), John Numrich, Patrick McNabb (Hayley), Max Niederluecke (Lauren), Berit Niederluecke and Lindsay Hicks (Trevor) and great-grandchildren Jack McToo, Clara McToo, Oscar McToo, Margot McNally, Miles McNally, Madeline Numrich and Cora Hicks, her caretaker and special friend, Freda Morel, many nieces and nephews, and of course, her constant companion and furry friend (the miniature schnauzer) Winnie III.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations in Virginia’s honor to the Minnesota Orchestra.
https://my.minnesotaorchestra.org/support/choose-donation